Valve tester



Feb. 8 1927.

2 sheets-sheet 2 uwz -A/km Karla/1110a Patented Feb; 8,

' valve "tester principally in side elevation and partially broken} away and showing the newest i set, assmma m n'eamm are i N E N R;C 2 NY, OF1\IEw YQRKi-Ng ynfconrona'rron ornnw ERsEY.

Figure 1 is a view showing thei nproved tester in nsein connection with one typeiof safety valve; f'i 1 1 V tester 1 r I i in takenalon'g-the line &t ofjF igure 3.- j An object ofthisinvention is top'rovid'ea valve tester by meansof which the: valves 1 provided in the" dome heads of tank cars may be tested to determine whether or not" these valvesare:v properly adjusted so that when 'gas 'accumulatesin a tankth'e' valves will open at the proper pressure to permit "accnmlilated gas to escape :t'rorn the tank.

' These'va'lves haveto be adjusted soth at they willnormally: open at a predetermined pres-' jsurefand must further be so adjusted that they; will not open under' too light a pres.- su1,'e.".

, vide' a-va'lve. tester ,which: may be easily and Leo quickly put in place in? connection with dense head valves of" a" conventional ,constrnctionfl andto further soconstruct the tester that'a lever. forming 'apartof the tester mayj'be Vpivota-e 1y snspended at a desired distance above theivalvel )This improved valve, tester is provided with a frame indicated in general byethe numeral 1 andhaving a head 2 formed with a vertically disposed bearing 3 from which 7 extend arms t. These armsare cast integral" with. thejbea ring "3 and at their outer ends I are provided with sockets 5 open at their lower ends and internally; threaded .so that the supporting legs or standards .6fina-y; be

screwed into qthese sockets. Feet 7 are screwed 'upon"thethreaded -lower' end por- 5 tionslof the legs 6, and are provlded with shoulders 8 and depending portions 9 which havetheirlmver endsprovided with slots 10.

Fig.3, the shonlders8 may restnpon the up 'per edgeor riin of the wall 12 andt-hedei pending-portions extend along theinner face-of the wall. In either case, the support H p of the-frame 1 on the safety valve rimjis Figore2iis a' -top plan view of thelvalvex; I A p a V r ing of-the ifeet7ontward'from their footing w Figiire g'isaviewin side elevation "show-Y Y ing the 'v'alve tester nse in connection with a slightly"modifiedfforin ofsafety valve andv Figure '4', is a 1 transverse sectional View dist'riblited stably therearoiind, andspread;

on the 'rim is effectually prevented.

5 Vilhen'a' valve is to be' testeddt inust'i'be v idrawn upwardly? against the action of itsseating spring and this device is to'beilsed to determine Whether'or not the springi-is' properly adjusted; so that a valve. such "as" shownat 13-in1Figure 1 or 14 Figure- 3- will be lifted by excessive" pressureand not lifted before apr'edetermined pressure is reached. 111 orderitotest. this valve there has been provided a lever 15which is'provid- 7 ed; adjacent one end with pivot pins16i eX-' tendlng from opposite sides ofthe leverand extending into the eyes 17 of the U shaped s'l1ackle 18. f-This shackle 18 forms apart of the fulcrum meansifonmounting the lever and isdisposed between the arms 19 attheY .v a X11 lower end-of the stem 20-Wh6I8 it-is retain-i 1 Another object of the invention is to proand-is provided with a chain QQseouredto,

one of-the arms t-ofthefranie' head so'that f Q this pin Willnot'be liable to becoinelost'. The stem 20 ofth'eeshaekle projects upwardly into an enlarged upperyportionf of *the pas-j I sage 23.. It.has,vtherefore,ian annnlar shonl-xk: i

der"2 6, which rests 1113011 13116 upper edge of-theibearing i. It will thus beiseen that, Yfby'adjustingethe nut 24 the -shacklemay be: e n 1 vertically adjusted and the leverfriaused to-v The snpporte'dlat'the desired di'stanceeabove the valve when the deviceisininse. r

Inorder to engage the eye 27 0f the 13 or lifting knob .28 of the valve'14 there ion has been provided a: grapple 29 1 which has the upper end portion of its shank 30 pro-r fedin place byxa pin 21. This pin 21 ex tends through the arms 19 and shackle 18* It-willtherefore be seen that the feet. 7 can beadjusted uponthe legs G'by being rotated. 50v thereon-,"-so thatiyvhen the tester 'is-nsedfin connection; with the "type of-i-valve shown in Figure'l, the [upperedge portion or rirnof shackle 32.; The shackle 32 is similar in shape :tothe shackle; 18and has its arms extend-[ ing upon opposite sides of the-lever 15"and I provided with eyes receiving the pins: 33 the wall'll of the valve'housing may be rewhich extend from opposite sides of the ceived inithe seat'sflO, andlwhen in use inleverbetween the pins16 and the inneriend v 55 connection withthe'type'of valveishown 'i'n fof the lever. f ht its lower-end the grappleflll o vi'de dwith an' eye 31 to receive the :U-shaped 1 I 29 is provided with. afoot.portion. 34c. which extends transversely of the shanlr BO and is, provided at one end with a hook 35 for passing through the eye 27 of the valve 13 and at'jits other end -with hooked forks 36' for extending upon opposite sides of the 1 knob 28 and engaging this knob as shown inFigures 3 and 4. It will therefore be seenthat this grapple can have proper,engagement,

alternatively, with valves of very diverse f rms 1:; e. .g with. va ve uch. .as-shqw i V which are. to be; SLIbjQCtQClwtO@VQLFlOHS pre-v Figures i l and 2, where the eye 27 extends, above. the wall 11-, and. alsowith a valve such asshown iuFig rs a ds, here the k ob.

.28 7 is," :lisposed within. the confines 10f; the.

llL' Q-P Thisdevice .is tub us for testing valves determined pressures. and; therefore there shasibeen provided a weight 87 whichis slidable along,the lever 15. Groups .of'scale notches .3 8; 39, and 40, and, 41, 42. and 43 have ,been providedin the upperedgepon tion; Of;.:the.le.ver.. so thatrbymovingthe weight. along, the lever-from; one, notch to another apredetermined; pressureinay. be:

appliedto the valve through; .the medium of the, lever andthe action of a vvalveat a predetermined pressure accurately determ'inel si 'I hehnQt h-es38, and. 40am to. be; useduvhen. testing a valve. set for; a pres-;

sureof 12..po. unds; per. square inch, notch 38 indicating a pressurev of215rpounds upon.

. the valve, notch 39-indicating.-apressure of 235lpounds, and notch lOrindicating. a.pres-..

' sure. of 25.5 pounds; Thenotchesrof the. secondset .areforctesting avalvesetrfor a.

pressure. of. 25. pounds. per square inch and represent-, respectively, a. pressure. of 480 pounds. for... notch alaadpressure. of 490 poundsifor notch: 5L2, 'and.a-.-pressure. of, 1550 pounds for.no.tch.4;3.-. I

VVhena valve is to be tested the frame will beput inplace. with its feetengaging the,

wall and the. grapple 29. will be moved into engagnientwith .eithertheeye 27 or knob 28 of the. valve. If itis-found thatthis. grapple cannot bereadily engagedwiththe eye; or

knob o'fi the .valve the nut 2e will be.acl- .justed. upon the. thread. stem .23. of the V fulcrum so thatthis fulcrum willb-eraisedtor. lowered :as. necessary. Itwill: be assumed that the valve tobe tested is set: fora pres. sure of.;l2 1 pounds: per: square inch The =.no rmal pressure I at which avalve: of. this.

type is supposedltogbe lifted: from its seat by gas accumulating in a1 tankacar. is 235 f pounds which is indicated bythe notch r 3 9.

'an'drwill: be. termed. the normal pressure. '1 wThe minimiun pressure is 215;.p0unds; as, indicated by notch38 and when the weight 'isrplaced. in thishotch 38-. the valve .is1sup-.

posed to remain upon its seat? If'itisfound.

7 thfat when the weightis placed in ,this notch; :38nsufiicienti pressure is exerted to, lift the.

valve. from its seat this indicates/that the valve is not properly adj ustedj and therefore the spring which holds the valve upon its seat must be tightened until the valve will, remain seated when the weight; is plated in notch 38': The weight'will' then bemoved to notch. 39 and as this is the normal pressure at which the valve is supposed to open,

thepressureshould-serve to lift the valve from its seat. When the weight is placed in the notch 40 thennaximum pressure of pou s i e z tcd and i thei lve;

isnot lifted from its seat this iIlCllCtLteS;tl1&t;; e xt me af ty p ntlm b Ds.- 'Q h6l and there would be: danger of accumulated; ga e tr ying. tank; The valve must therefore be adjusted so that it,;will;

open-easily at this point.,and;;of course. it

mustalso open at the normal, pressureofr235 this ,j-device the operation of a valve atits pounds. It will therefore be seen; thatpwith 4 minimum pressure, normal pressure; and.

maximum pressure can 136.,(16561'111l116d: and proper adjustments made if, it is foundthatw the valve opensatits minimum pressure on. failsjto open at its normalor maximum;pres= sure, In other words; the notches:.,39, 381,. and 40 afford.v a means; ofdeterinining the. behavior of the valve for pressures.atybelow;.

and above, 12 lbs. per square lIl (;}l1fWl1lle-tl1( -3,. actual pressure .onthe valve is all th'e .w-liile.v just, 12 lbs... per sq. in.

The mannen of test. inga valve, set fora pressure of 25 pounds. per squarelinch would bethesame as-that set forth in connection with a valve havinga pressure .of-il2pounds per. square-ranch except. that the notches 41', 42. and 43. would .1 be made use of. It will readily. be understood that. other setsof notches could 136-1310 vided if so desiredaand-would .be1.,spaced-.-10e;,

along the lever at) the proper points. and;

marked to indicatethe pressures/per squareinch of the valve and the minimum, normal: 1 w

and maximum operating. pressures-1 What is claimedis:

1. A ksa-fety valve tester. comprising. a. frame. adapted to be supportedf'above. av valve to .be-tested, 'afulcrum carried. by. said;i frame a lever pivotallyconnected:withtsaid fulcrum, valve engaging. means .carried: by. said lever. comprising. a grapple; with alter.

native diverse hook. portionsrformliftingL valves of differentlformg and pressure applying means engaged-.with said=leveri and:

tendin to move the same for testln o I eras:

b b p 2. A safety valvetester. comprising. a. frame adapted to be supported above. a. valve to betested and having abearingwith a vertically disposed. opening,qm,eans.-forsupporting the frame. on the valve, casing; comprising foot members,- each having ag shoulder portion to support-the fra1ne-- ati one elevation and an offset; projecting pore time for pp r ng. e frame a a l ethere lever for testing operation of to be'tested and having a bearing provided with a' vertically disposed. opening, a fuling supportinglegs, feet rota-tablycarried crum having a threaded stem rextending up! Wardly through the opening and arn'isat the lower'end' of thefstem, a shackle ex tending between said arms anda pin extending through the arms and shackle vto mount the shackle, an adjusting and sup- J porting unit threadedup'on saidstem and resting upon said frame, a lever pivotally supported-byzsaid shackle and having valve 37 engaging means, and pressure applying 7 means engaging said lever for impart ng i movement to the lever and testing operation. 7 of a valve at predeterminedpressures. V a Q 4; A. safety valve tester comprising a frame including a head portion and dependby saidlegs havingv portions for engaging a valvexcasing when the feet are in one posi-''' tion and also having depending valve easing engaging. portions offset with'respect to the first mentioned valve casing engagingportions and adapted to engagewith a i valve casing and support said frame in an elevated position when said feet are turned to an'a d- 'justed position, means affording'a} fulcrum I carried by the head portion of said frame, a

lever pivotedto said fulcrum, valve engaging means carried by said lever,"and pressure applying means engaged, with said lever.

5. A safety valve tester comprising a I frameinc'luding a head portion and'depending supporting legs, feet rotatablycarried by said legs having portions, for engaging a valvecasing whenthe feet arein one posia tion and also having depending valve casing V sure applying means carried by engaging'portionsioffset with1 respect;to the first mentioned valve-casing engaging por.-,

tions and adapted" to engage with a valve "easing and-support said frame in an elevated position when said feet are'turnedtolan adjustedpposition, means affording a: ful-i erum carried by the head portion of said frame, a lever]; pivoted to" said fulcrum,- 7

Valve engaging means carried by said lever and having "a shank and'a foot portion BX: tending transversely; of the shank andhaving its opposite end portions provided with 1 valve engaging'means, and pressure apply;

6.; Ina safety valve tester, a frame adapted tobe' supporteddirectly upon a valve to f ing means engaged; with said lever.

be tested and comprisingabearing, arms extending therefrom, Lmeansfor supporting .theframe on the 'fvalv'e casing in positions Of difi'erent elevation, a vertically movable fulcrum carried in ;said bearing,a lever pivotally engaged with'saidfulcrum, valve lifting means; carried bysaid lever at one .side of saidjfulcrum, said lifting means being provided with a member having ldiverse alternative valve engaging means for? lifting. valves of different forms, and pressaid lever atan opposite 'sideof said fulcrum.

. 7.--Inj 'a tester for tank. carsafety valves,

frame, means carried by said frame for affording it "firm support distributed around "the casing rimfofa tank car'safetyfvalveand for prevent ng horizontal spreadlng thereofioutward from its footing on such rim, a fulcrum. carriedlby said frame, a V lever supported by saldfulicrum, means carp.

'ried by said lever for" effecting a latching engagement With the top of a l tank car the lever for testingop'eration of 'a'rvalve at predeterminedpressures.

In witness whereof h ve hereunto set my hand. l

'vvILnoUeHB s5 "safety-valve, and pressure app-lying means engaged with said lever'and tending to move 

